TOLLS FOR BRIDGE

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30130, 14 May 1963, Page 15

TOLLS FOR BRIDGE

Decrease Held Possible

(N.Z. Press Association) ■ AUCKLAND, May 13. Cash tolls on the Auckland Harbour Bridge could be reduced 25 per cent.. Mr D. H. .McDonald, a public accountant. told the North Shore Local Bodies’ Association tonight. This would mean a 6d reduction on tihe present 2s toll for private cars. Mr McDonald was engaged by the local bodies and the North Shore Chamber of Commerce to report on the financial position of the Auckland Harbour Bridge Authority. He was asked to investigate the possibility of toll reductions.

Mr McDonald said an orthodox loan policy with a repayment programme for 35 years from now, together with prudent control of expenditure, would “comfortably permit” a 25 per cent, toll reduction.

He suggested it should come into effect from October 1 this year. Because some information asked for was not supplied by the authority. Mr McDonald said he had to improvise in some respects, but he was nevertheless convinced that the conclusions of the report were correct, since they were encompassed by adequate margins. The meeting unanimously passed three resolutions, calling for a deputation to discuss bridge toll reductions with the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake), distribution of the report to various Ministers and x local bodies, and further representation for North Shore local authorities on the bridge authority.